I was shocked—shocked!—when a friend who has tons of money, no kids and plenty of time on her hands recently returned from two weeks in Tuscany and said, “My husband and I are sick of traveling. It’s just not worth the hassle of dealing with the airports anymore.”

I agree that air travel, with all its rules, regulations, crowds and grumpy fellow passengers, can be a drag. And though I actually fantasize about traveling more, I concede that navigating mile-long terminals and tussling for overhead space can get a girl down.

So I reached out to people who actually do travel often (and enjoy it) for tips on better enjoying the air-travel experience. Here are recommendations from experts on making the most of the friendly skies.

Snag a sweet seat. When shopping for flights, use SeatGuru to help pick the aircraft with the widest aisles and seats with the most legroom, says Scott Grimmer, founder of MileValue.com, a blog that offers tips on making the most of frequent-flier miles. “SeatGuru is very thorough, noting things like proximity to bathrooms and galleys, rows without a window—even under-seat entertainment equipment that can constrict legroom,” Grimmer says.

Ryan Lile, whose Frequent Flyer Academy site helps travelers find ticket deals, says to check in online exactly 24 hours before takeoff to get the best available seat assignment, such as rows with extra legroom, without paying extra. “Waiting to check in at the airport may put you in a middle seat if the flight is full,” Lile warns.

Don’t let airplane seating cramp your style. Check into your flight early, so you can get a leg up on other passengers.

Butter up the flight attendants. Laura Daily, a correspondent for OnTravel Radio and former president of the Society of American Travel Writers, says better service can often be bought. “On a long flight, bring the flight attendant some sort of local, edible treat,” says Daily, who also owns Mile High on the Cheap, which helps Denver-area residents find free and cheap activities and products. “Remember, they are either dining on an in-flight meal or grabbing something at an airport.” Daily gives a small box of locally made chocolates to the senior flight attendant, to whom she whispers, “to share with the crew.” She adds, “They may not be able to give you more legroom, but that gift may buy you your choice of snack boxes or a free drink or movie.”

This actually does work, says The Flying Pinto blogger, Sara Keagle, who is an attendant with a major airline. But the best way to win over a flight attendant? “Follow the rules, say hello, please and thank you,” says Keagle, who wrote the e-book The Flying Pinto’s Flight Attendant Survival Guide($3.99 at Amazon).“Flight attendants are so used to rude people that these simple gestures stand out.”

Bring the flight attendant a treat, and you might get first-class treatment, too.

Stay hydrated. Carolyn Scott-Hamilton blogs at The Healthy Voyager and suggests carrying an empty water bottle and filling it at a fountain once you pass security. “This way, you ensure being hydrated on your flight, which is very important to feeling good,” Hamilton says. “Plus, it saves you money and keeps plastic bottles out of the landfills.”

And when you do order from the beverage cart, avoid booze. “The effects of alcohol in the air are two-and-a-half times greater in the sky than on land,” Hamilton says. “Not only will you be more drunk, you will be dehydrated faster and run the risk of low blood sugar—all bad combos for when you arrive at your destination.”

Skip the alcohol, and drink water instead. Sure, boozing might help you sleep, but it’ll also leave you dehydrated.

Climate control. Daily recommends always bringing a sweater, even if the temperatures outside are scorching. “Airlines err on the side of a cabin that is too chilly rather than too warm,” Daily says. When booking, remember that window seats are always colder than those on the aisle. And if temps are really extreme, don’t be shy to alert the flight attendant, who can ask the pilot to adjust the thermostat.

Power up. Cindy Richards, editor-in-chief of Traveling Mom, has traveled with her now-teenage kids since they were tiny tots and always brings a power strip. “There are never enough outlets at the gate, and some guy with an iPhone and a laptop is sure to already be plugged into both of them,” Richards says. “Always carry a power strip, so you can walk right up to that guy, ask to plug in your power strip, then plug in his gadgets as well.” (Find power strips and other device accessories at RadioShack, where you can get free shipping on orders over $50.)

Open outlets are hard to come by at busy airports. Take charge and bring your own power strip just in case.

Make room for baby. Brianna Meighan, author of e-book How to Fly With a Baby: Your Mile-High Guide to Air Travel With an Infant($2.99 at Barnes & Noble),suggests that parents of small children request the row of seats just behind the bulkhead.“Being close to the door makes for easy boarding and deplaning,” says Meighan. “These seats also provide more legroom for you to keep that all-so-important diaper bag stowed at your feet for constant access to snacks, bottles, toys and diapers.” Meighan recommends securing baby toys with a clip-on leash, “as little ones tend to drop things constantly.” (Get Barnes & Noble sales.)

When traveling with babies and toddlers, Richards urges parents to tell fellow passengers in nearby seats that the first round of drinks is on you. “It’s worth the $6 per passenger if the kid screams the entire flight,” Richards says. “Not everyone will take you up on it, but it will earn you a more sympathetic attitude from the outset.”

For the sake of your fellow fliers, keep baby comfy. Some airlines offer bassinets that attach to the bulkhead.

Scope out the airport. Kirsten Alana, who blogs about travel at Aviators and a Camera, swears by the GateGuru app, which she uses to find express manicures, the best newsstands, healthy food and luggage stores “in case I’m having a baggage issue.” She looks for restaurants that offer sit-down service. “They’re likely to have healthier options than a fast-food chain,” Alana says.

Let the GateGuru app be your go-to guide for restaurants, shops and services near your gate.

5 responses to “Flying Friendlier Skies”

I just returned from a vacation involving a very stressful experience at the airport. We were constantly on the lookout for an empty outlet, but having our own power strip would’ve saved us the hassle of lugging our heavy bags from gate to gate looking for a place to charge. Next time, we’ll bring one, for sure.

Wow! I’ve never considered bringing treats or gifts for flight attendants. I’d be so nervous that by giving them a present, I’d make them feel uncomfortable. But that’s interesting that Keagle says it works. And as for checking into your flight early, well, don’t get me started. If you aren’t flying with an airline with designated seating (ahem, Southwest), you’d be a fool to not check in early. I’ve made this mistake too many times, and I ended up in the last boarding group, with a rotten seat and without overhead bin space. #regrets

Southwest really has a terrible seating system. Every passenger must pay the same price for a ticket, yet those that aren’t the fastest at checking in get the short end of the stick. I’ve yet to fly Southwest and get to sit next to the person I’m traveling with. It makes for a very quiet, very long (and pretty boring) flying experience. I’m not a fan.